Geranium plant named `Cherry Delight`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Geranium plant, &#34;Cherry Delight&#34; characterized by its cascading growth habit; its large sized medium green foliage with zoning, its abundant flowers and, its double, bright clear pink colored flowers and its heat tolerance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name "Cherry Delight" relates to a new and distinct Geranium plant. "Cherry Delight" is a new and improved plant resulting from a planned breeding program as performed by me in my greenhouse at 821 Walnut Street, Batavia, Ill. My breeding program began in March 1977, and has been ongoing since that time. This seedling was initially identified by my records as 80×083P, and was the result of a cross between Red Heart, an unpatented cascade Geranium as the seed parent crossed with the Indianapolis Pink, an unpatented cascade Geranium as the pollen parent. Being a cross between two market class zonal Geranium plants, it is believed that the botanical classification Pelargonium×hortorum would be appropriate for this plant.

Upon recognition of the outstanding characteristics of this plant, it was selected from the progeny of the stated cross, and was set aside for further observation, testing, and was subsequently named "Cherry Delight." Asexual reproduction of "Cherry Delight" has been repeatedly accomplished by the rooting of vegetative cuttings in my greenhouse in Batavia, Ill. Examination of the plants so propagated through a series of propagations has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics herein disclosed for "Cherry Delight" are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations through asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinguishing characteristics of "Cherry Delight" reside primarily in its cascading growth habit, its large-sized medium green foliage with conspicuous zonation and its abundant blooming habit. This plant also has unique bright clear pink double flowers and unusually high heat tolerance. This plant might be seen as a novel and desirable introduction within the industry by a combination of desired traits including:

Being particularly adapted to culture in hanging baskets due to its cascading habit, tendency to prolifically branch, and dense leafy canopy. Forming a dense plant mass completely hiding the top of a basket in about 10 weeks from four plantlets, and a thick plant mass which is wider than it is tall and of mounded form.

Having a generous amount of matt foliage with medium green coloration and very conspicuous zonation over the leaves which are of large size and normal density.

Presenting a large number of well filled umbels of varied states of maturity placed well above the foliage mass, and having a pleasingly bright clear pink floret coloration which is attractively, contrastingly high-lighted against the conspicuously zoned green foliage.

Having a large number of umbels with a generous number of open double petal florets of medium to large size and appearance, borne on pedicels which present florets in a tightly condensed arrangement to form umbels having a fairly tightly compacted and mounded shape.

Presenting a large number of umbels which also vary in stage of maturity which gives the plant an attractive appearance for an extended period of time rather than being one which blooms in discontinuous flushes.

The color definitions to follow have been taken from The Royal Horticultural Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, where presented by the letters RHS followed by a color grouping indication, the number indicating the color patch and the letter indicating the shade, except where color definitions in general terms of ordinary meaning are presented. Plant descriptions were made from specimens grown under greenhouse conditions during daylight hours in Batavia, Ill.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The photograph depicts a market unit made up of four market stage specimens of the plant growing in a 10 inch hanging planter, in a stage of inflorescence. The assemblage is shown in side view, depicting the characteristics of branching, leaves, leaf density, leaf coloration and zonation, the number and varied stages of buds and flowers, and the positioning of the flower heads relative to the mass of the plants in the hanging basket.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Market class: Cascading zonal Geranium suitable for planting in hanging baskets.

Market name: "Cherry Delight".

Growth: "Cherry Delight" is a prolific blooming Geranium. The flowers are double and the flower head or truss is of large size and quite resistant to shattering. The growth is generally procumbent in attitude which gives it a cascading effect.

Growth rate: Rapid, producing a typical 10 inch flowering basket in about 10 to 12 weeks from four 21/4 inch plantlets using standard commercial culture. This plant has exceptional vigor under normal conditions.

Blooming habit: Exceptionally profuse and continuously blooming plant throughout the year, outdoors during the frost-free period, or in the greenhouse; a mature 10 inch hanging basket commonly producing a range of 9 to 17 flower heads at one time, in varying stages of maturity.

INFLORESCENCE

Flower heads:

Size.--23/4 to 31/2 inches across when the florets are fully open.

Count.--9 to 17 presented at one time.

Truss:

Size.--Large size; ranges from about 23/4 inches to 31/2 inches in diameter.

Shape.--Somewhat tight, a flattened globe as it opens.

Number of florets.--Variable, range of from about 18 to 31, average 22 to 26.

Lasting quality.--Average. Blooms remain 5 to 10 days and may last longer in cool, dry weather.

Buds:

Sepals.--Shape--Long, average width and pointed. Color--Same as leaves.

Color.--Red Group RHS 5 4 B,

Form.--Fat and round with a slight point.

Florets:

Number.--20 to 30.

Form.--Flat to cupped.

Size.--Ranging from 11/2 to 13/4 inches across an open floret.

Petals:

Number.--About 5 to 8.

Size.--Ranging from about 11/16 to 13/16 inches long to about 15/16 to 1 13/16 inches wide.

Texture.--Soft.

Appearance.--Bright.

Petaloids:

Number.--About 6 to 10.

Shape.--Variable, often misshapen.

Color.--Similar to that of the petals.

Size.--About 3/16 to 5/16 inches long and 11/16 to 15/16 inches wide.

Sepals:

Number.--Usually 5.

Color.--About like that of the leaves.

Pedicel:

Length.--About 1 3/16 to 1 5/16 inch.

Color.--RHS Greyed Red, 178 B.

Peduncle:

Arises.--From node, opposed to leaf petiole.

Pubescence.--Normal.

Color.--RHS Yellow Green 144A.

Reproductive organs

Androecium:

Stamens.--Number -- 5 to 7. Shape -- Ribbon-like filaments jointed at bases. Color -- Rose purple. Anther Attachment -- versatile.

Anthers.--Number -- 5 to 7. Shape -- Normal, well developed. Color -- Purple.

Gynoecium:

Pistil.--Number -- One, compound. Length -- About within the range of 3/32 to 5/32 inches.

Stigma.--Color -- Purple.

Style.--Color -- Green.

Ovary.--Size -- Within about 1/32 to 1/16 inches long.

Fertility: normal, viable seed is produced.

Behavior: Once the plant begins to bloom, it has an exceptionally prolific blooming habit and yields a striking display of large bright clear pink double flowers against its large-sized medium green zoned foliage.

General observations: Inflorescence is of large size and of slightly tight heads which are an attractive contrast to the medium green zoned foliage of the plant and measure up to about 3 inches in diameter. High floret, petal and petaloid counts make umbels appear as dense balls at optimum stage of opening. Flowers have very high tolerance to heat when compared to those of other varieties.

STEM

Thickness: Medium slim.

Internodes: Medium.

Branching: Free breaking.

Attitude: Procumbent habit.

FOLIAGE

Leaves:

Quantity.--Abundant.

Shape.--Reniform.

Size.--Largest leaves range from about 3 to about 33/4 inches wide.

Margin.--Crenate.

Texture.--Matt, lightly pubescent.

Coloration.--Leaves a medium green tone as normally seen in Geraniums per se RHS Green Group 137B, with narrow zone of brown hue RHS Brown Group 190A. Zonation is centrally located on the leaf surface, and concentric to the point of petiole attachment and with green surface portions both inside and outside the zonal band.

Petioles:

Texture.--Lightly pubescent.

Length.--About 17/8 to 31/8 inches.

Color.--Yellow Green Group RHS 146B.

"Cherry Delight" is comparable to "Flame Delight" with which it shares market class, but is easily distinguishable therefrom in terms of flower color; "Cherry Delight" having bright clear pink petal coloration, while the petals of "Flame Delight" are more scarlet; and by vigor, "Cherry Delight" being much more vigorous. "Cherry Delight" is readily distinguished from "Midnight Rose" by having florets of much lighter coloration and by having a leaf attitude which more closely follows the shape of the plant mass and by having leaf zonation, which is lighter. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Geranium plant, substantially as shown and described, characterized by its cascading growth habit; its large-sized, medium green foliage with zoning; its abundant blooming habit; its bright double clear pink colored flowers and its heat tolerance. 